Title leader left the track after coming under pressure from Hamilton
Monday 8 September 2014 13:31, UK
Nico Rosberg was quick to hold his hand up for the error that cost him victory in Sunday’s Italian GP.
The current title leader took control at the lights after Mercedes team-mate, title rival and polesitter Lewis Hamilton made a poor getaway. But after climbing back up from fourth place, Hamilton had Rosberg in his sights by lap 29 of the 53-lap race.
Rosberg had already taken to the escape road at the Rettifilo chicane on lap nine but crucially made the same mistake a second time, with Hamilton sweeping past to take a lead he maintained to the chequered flag.
“Lewis was quick coming from behind, so I had to up my pace and then as a result l just made a mistake,” Rosberg said afterwards. “That was very bad and lost me the lead in the end, so definitely very disappointing from that point of view.”
An error it might have been and - conspiracy theories aside - it’s one that will inevitably lead to the conclusion that the German ‘cracked under pressure’.
However, the mitigating factor is that the braking zone at Rettifilo – where cars decelerate from the fastest speeds they reach all season to take one of F1’s slowest corners – is just about the toughest on the calendar.
“Monza is one of the most difficult tracks because of low downforce and it’s the highest speed of the year. But that’s doesn’t mean it’s an excuse or anything,” Rosberg said.
“It’s one of the challenges here and unfortunately I got it wrong. Two times in the race.”
Rosberg was, of course, forced to apologise after finishing second last time out in Belgium – a result gained even though he was at fault for his controversial collision with Hamilton, who was forced to retire.
His latest error might have denied fans the prospect of seeing them battle wheel-to-wheel once more but Rosberg, who still leads Hamilton by 22 points in the title race, put a brave face on his disappointment.
“Spa is behind me, it was behind me before the weekend. In today’s race, it just came to the mistake and that was it – because Lewis was fast from behind,” added the 29-year-old, who appeared upbeat on the podium despite being booed for the second successive race.
“As for me not being downbeat, I am very, very disappointed inside. But there’s no point now to have my mouth hanging down.
“I look at the reality – second place, it’s still okay. There’s definitely a lot worse than that. I lost seven points to Lewis, so that’s the frame of mind I’m trying to take.”
Speaking to Sky Sports F1's Natalie Pinkham, meanwhile, Rosberg gave a status update on his relationship with Hamilton.
"There's always going to be difficult phases and then with time - because we still have that foundation from back in go-karting days, and I think that really helps," he said.
"There's that base respect there. So with time we always chat about it and move on. I think that's the way it's going to be this time too."
